Credit card application in someone else's name

kirei

A letter from Sainsbury's bank turned up today and it's in someone else's name. I opened it because I didn't see the name, it was obscured by the envelope, or I would have done return to sender. It says thank you for applying for our credit card, but it's been unsuccessful. The address is mine (lived there for 10 years) but the name is nothing like ours or any previous occupants we know. It sounds like a made up name as well, like the sort of name on these scam emails. What should I do? My husband says leave it as it isn't in our name.

DevCoder

If it's just a one off then bin it (or reseal the envelope and return to sender)

pvt

How timely!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4307699

Mojisola

I would normally go along with Which? but the law says

"A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/part/V/crossheading/offences-of-interfering-with-the-mail

I don't think that would apply to a letter sent to my address but with the name of someone who has never lived here. I would have no intention of acting to the person's detriment by opening that letter.

kirei

I decided to ring Sainsbury's Bank and they said they couldn't talk to me about it because I'm not the customer, but they said tape it back up and return to sender, and do this with any others. They said it didn't matter I had opened it in error. So I will do that. I was really worried about fraud but Sainsburys said if it's not in our name it can't be linked to us?

kirei

One friend just said don't send it back, if I do it might generate more post for this person???

chanz4

kirei wrote: »

One friend just said don't send it back, if I do it might generate more post for this person???

Your friends wrong, its not your mail to keep

rb10

kirei wrote: »

One friend just said don't send it back, if I do it might generate more post for this person???

Sending it back marked as 'not known at this address' should result in a block being placed on their account, preventing any further mail from being sent to your address.

kirei

Thank you! I will do that then! I'll be glad to be rid of it, it's been stressing me out